Group Rides in the Sacramento, CA Area
Good group rides abound in and around Sacramento. There is something
for almost anybody, fast or slow. Here is some of what I know:
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The "River Ride" is the most well-known group ride in the
greater Sacramento area.
Starting in mid-March, this ride leaves from
McClatchey High School across the street from the
Bicycle Business
on Tuesdays and Thursdays at either 5:00 P.M. (before daylight
savings time), 5:30 P.M. (after daylight savings time and also
when the days get shorter), or 6:00 P.M. (when the days get long).
It winds its way south at a brisk warm-up pace (up to 20 MPH) to Freeport,
and once across the bridge onto South River Road, all hell breaks
loose on the ride north. In an instant, the group is at race
pace (~30 MPH), and it waits for no-one (regardless of calamities).
A sprint occurs in the straightaway just before South River Road ends
at Jefferson Road. Often strung out with nowhere to hide; not for the
aerobically-challenged. Tuesdays see the largest turnout.
-
The "Noon 'Tempo' Ride" takes the same route as the River Ride
mentioned above, but takes place at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays
during the colder months of the year, being replaced in the early spring
by the "River Ride." Meeting at the
Bicycle Business,
this is a real steady 'tempo' ride (20 MPH) until racing season starts
to heat things up. Folks with problems generally not left for dead,
usually a fun and social ride.
-
The "Saturday Morning River Ride" is a large, year-round
gathering sponsored by the
Sacramento Golden Wheelmen
that meets in the alley behind
City Bicycle Works
on Saturday mornings at 10:00 A.M.. It starts out slowly and
innocently enough, but once out on The Garden Highway, the speed
surges upwards every minute or two, ending up at race pace (28-30 MPH),
even during winter months. The pack is large and unwieldy, and some
of the riders have more speed than experience. As a result, those at
the back not only get to suffer the dreaded "accordion effect," but
with some luck may also witness (or even become involved in)
interesting and sometimes spectacular crashes. Nothing will ever
cause this ride to stop. From the gutter to the centerline (and
sometimes beyond); not for the faint of heart. An easier-going,
mature group leaves fifteen minutes early at 9:45 A.M.. They might
go fast in the middle, but usually do regroup at the halfway point.
-
The "Saturday Morning Women's Ride" meets at the Coffee Republic
in Folsom every Saturday at 9:00 A.M. (9:30 A.M. after October 1).
Thanks to the combined leadership of
Ophir Milan
(Eve Blumenfeld in particular) and
Velo Bozo,
the ride is both social and enjoyable. After a nice easy warm-up,
as the ride enters the foothills, it does break up according to ability,
but nobody is usually left for dead. It is generally easy to find
a large group that matches one's comfort level. The ride goes as
far north as Newcastle, and there are a variety of return options,
most of them on Auburn-Folsom Boulevard. Always a fun ride.
-
The "Weekend Evening Grown-Up's Ride" meets on the Guy West
Bridge just east of CSU Sacramento during Daylight Savings Time
every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 6:00 P.M. (5:45 P.M., and
then 5:30 P.M. as the days get shorter). This is the same group of
folks that do the Sunday Morning Women's Ride; the Wednesday pace is
supposed to be more relaxed, but the other days can be brisk at times,
especially on the return trip, with a sprint just before the "mile eight"
sign.
-
The "Tuesday Breakfast Ride" meets at the William Pond Park
at the eastern end of Arden Way on Tuesday morning. The riders are
encouraged to arrive early, and sign in well before the 9:00 A.M. start.
This large group ride goes to a different place for breakfast each week
(generally alternating between Folsom and Davis),
with riders selecting from a variety of return options. While the
Sacramento Wheelmen
riders are older and are non-competitive, they are by no means slow.
This will not be one of your shorter (either in distance or time) rides.
A slower group leaves a half an hour earlier.
-
The "Moonlight Ride" meets at Bella Bru Café on the
corner of Fair Oaks Boulevard and Arden Way usually (but not always)
on the Friday or Saturday night at 7:00 P.M. closest to the full moon.
Although the ride is sponsored by the
Recumbent Riders of
Sacramento,
properly-helmeted and well-lit riders on other cycling-contraptions
are welcome by these friendly folks.
-
Mountain Bike Racing takes place on many warmer Wednesdays
out at Prairie City. Click
here for details.
A little further out, the Auburn Bike Works sponsors some events. Click
here for
details.
-
Cyclocross Racing takes place on many fall weekends at a
variety of Sacramento area locations. Click
here
for details.
Since this page was first written, Jimmy MacDonald has put forth a
wonderful creation known as the
Velo Community.
This is a "must see" for any cyclist in the Sacramento area.
Don't miss the "Event Calendar."
Most of the rides are associated with one the following clubs:
The
Team City Bicycle Works
has good, broad depth in their racing team.
The
Sacramento Golden Wheelmen
is the old, established club in Sacramento.
The
Rio Strada Racing
claims to be "just slightly better than average."
The
Ophir Milan
folks provide a low-testosterone alternative.
The
Sacramento Bike Hikers
know how to have fun.
The
Sacramento Wheelmen
is a huge touring club with something for everyone.
The
Gold Country Tandem Club
fills the tandem niche very well.
The
Recumbent Riders of Sacramento
have interesting bikes, and do a moonlight ride as well.
Please feel free to send me e-mail at:
mark@km6xu.com .
This page created on 02/14/2004; last update 01/01/2006.